Baseball has seen many scandals and arrests, but this one might be the definition of making a bad decision. When a translator’s side hustle turns into a $17 million fiasco, the real question isn’t how it happened—it’s who’s stuck paying the tab. And let’s just say, the answer isn’t sitting well with everyone.

Shohei Ohtani’s translator had one job—interpreting Japanese and English. Instead, he somehow fumbled his way into a $17 million gambling scandal that now has the sports world buzzing. With MLB insiders weighing in on the fallout, the real shocker isn’t just the crime—it’s the decision that has been made for his punishment. And MLB insider Katie Nolan discussed this on the notsam YouTube Channel.

When the topic of Shohei Ohtani came up, the topic of Ippei Mizuhara also came up. It is thought that the decision made in the alleged fraud case was a little too harsh. Sam Roberts on the show said, “I can’t believe they are making him pay and sending him to jail.”

We all know about Ippei Mizuhara and his alleged embezzling of nearly $17 million from Shohei Ohtani. And after the result of his hearing was revealed, many MLB fans were happy with the outcome. To them, justice was served as the man who troubled their hero, Shohei Ohtani, was put in jail. But some MLB insiders think it was a bit too harsh.

A 57-month jail sentence was given to Ippei Mizuhara. He must also pay approximately $17 million to Shohei Ohtani and $1.15 million to the IRS. Nolan and Roberts argue that making him serve time and repay the full amount is excessive.

Either he does the time, or he pays the dime, but both feel like overkill.

Justice may be blind, but in this case, it sure feels like it had a calculator in one hand and a gavel in the other. While Mizuhara’s actions were undeniably reckless, the punishment has sparked debate over whether it’s justice or just making an example out of him. Either way, one thing’s for sure—he won’t be translating anything but prison rules for the next few years.

Meanwhile, Shohei Ohtani is fully focusing on baseball and leaving personal life troubles behind when he steps on the field.

Shohei Ohtani forgets all the problems and goes yard against the Angels in his first spring training game

Shohei Ohtani doesn’t just rise above distractions—he sends them 400 feet into the stands. With chaos swirling off the field, the two-way superstar stepped up to the plate and did what he does best. Let’s just say, if there were any doubts about his focus, he crushed them—along with the baseball.

The 2025 season for the founder of the 50-50 club could not have started any better. Shohei Ohtani made his first start in the 2025 spring training against the Los Angeles Angels on the 28th of February. And he had no intentions of showing any mercy to his former team.

Shohei Ohtani came up for his first at-bat and wrecked the ball, launching a 385-foot home run deep into left field with an exit velocity of 107 mph. But this was the only hit of the day for him as he popped out and struck out in his next two at-bats. But the Los Angeles Dodgers did win the game 6-5.

If this is just a warm-up, the league better brace itself. Ohtani didn’t just remind the Angels of what they lost—he sent them a souvenir to prove it. One swing was all it took to show that, despite the off-field noise, his bat ws still the loudest thing in baseball.